The world is increasingly complex, instrumented and virtual. There’s vast amounts of information about consumers and the factors that influence their behavior that simply didn’t exist in the data warehouse era. Here, we take a closer look at how all this data will affect retail when it comes together with recent technology trends.

Global FMCG retail is pegged at $4 trillion today, growing at a rate of just 4%, with signs of continuing sluggish performance in developed markets. On the other hand, total retail e-commerce is predicted to grow by 20% (combined annual growth rate) to become a $4 trillion market by 2020.

The variety and increasing scale of data, as well as the scope of activity it is meant to inform, demands a solution that goes well beyond a simple enterprise data warehouse. So what might that more robust solution look like?

In addition to being hyper connected and digitally driven, Millennials are focused on personal experiences. And for many, those experiences happen away from home. Notably, Millennials are very interested in travel—and shopping along their journeys.

In addition to being hyper connected and digitally driven, Millennials are focused on personal experiences. And for many, those experiences happen away from home. Notably, Millennials are very interested in travel. In fact, they travel more than any other generation, including Baby Boomers.

Retail players have long believed that large-format stores will eventually take over the landscape, but today’s reality disproves the “bigger is always better” myth. Although large stores still account for 51% of global sales, smaller channels are growing sales up to eight times as fast their larger counterparts.

Nielsen Sports' latest report examines not only the rising interest in para-sports and the Paralympics, its growing status as a media product and how the Games already works for partners, but also notes the opportunity it provides to change attitudes – and, critically, what that might mean for current and future para-sports sponsors.

Modern retail has long been guided by a powerful premise: the bigger, the better. But the retail landscape is shifting, and this mantra no longer holds true in all cases. This report explores the pain and pleasure points in global consumers' shopping experiences.

While consumer confidence declined in 10 of 14 Asia-Pacific markets, the region still leads all global regions with an index score of 107. Among the four markets that improved from the previous quarter, the Philippines showed the biggest quarterly country-level confidence increase of seven index points, rising to a score of 122—the country’s highest level on record.

The Middle East/Africa region registered a one-point increase in Nielsen’s latest first-quarter global consumer confidence results with an index score of 96. Three of five countries measured in the region also showed confidence increases.

Consumer confidence in Asia-Pacific increased in nine of 14 markets measured by Nielsen in Q1, compared to only three that rose in Q4 2014. Nine markets in the region remained at or above the 100-baseline level of optimism. At 130, India reached its highest level since 2011—up one-point from Q4. Confidence in India has been on the rise for six consecutive quarters.

Consumer Confidence in the Middle East/Africa region dipped one-index point in the fourth quarter, ending 2014 with a score of 95. The score marked a five-point increase from the fourth quarter of 2013. Among the five countries measured in the region, three saw quarterly consumer confidence increases and two saw declines.

Even though the market is challenging for retailers, some companies have been able to break away from the rest and grow rapidly. Their performance highlights the opportunity - even when things look bleak. Let’s take a look at what these companies have done to succeed in a tough market.

2013 was a period of consolidation in Sri Lanka, marked by ripples from a series of corrective measures in 2012 aimed to chill an overheated economy. The indicators are that the worst could be over. And that's good news for companies and consumers alike.

The world’s population is getting older and many consumers say the world isn’t prepared for the shift. According to the World Health Organization, 2 billion people will be at least 60 years old by 2050, which raises questions and concerns for consumers as well as industries.

Global consumer confidence held steady with an index of 94 at the end of 2013, rounding out three consecutive quarters at that confidence level. Discretionary spending declined in all regions, many regions still feel mired in recession, and Asia-Pacific posted the only regional consumer confidence increase in Q4.

Managing money can be difficult no matter where we live, and in many cases, it feels like we spend our cash before we earn it. In fact, Nielsen reports that globally, we save or invest just 10 percent of our monthly income on average. But is that enough?

As the fastest growing multicultural segment in the U.S. with an outsized impact on the consumer marketplace, Asian Americans have emerged as a powerful economic force. The group’s buying behaviors and viewing patterns, however, are different and unique from the total population.

The U.S. market has been tough recently on many of the big consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, after many years during which the leading players typically fared quite well. The advantage the leaders historically derived from their scale and scope is no longer what it once was, leaving big companies wondering how to adjust.

With the global middle class growing by 70 million each year, and food prices expected to more than double within the next two decades, the world is entering an unprecedented period of rising demand, economic pressure and aspirationally driven buying behavior.

With a current buying power of $1 trillion that is forecasted to reach $1.3 trillion dollars by the year 2017, the importance of connecting with African-American consumers is more important than ever. Importantly, these consumers are distinct from other consumer groups, and understanding them is critical to making lasting connections.

The road to better jobs, more money and improved lifestyles is all paved by education. More than three-quarters of global online respondents agree that receiving a higher education, such as college, is important and three-fourths believe educational opportunities can lead to better employment and higher income.

Female empowerment is growing across Asia as women secure better and more independent incomes, higher education and gender equality. In tandem, women’s spending power has increased exponentially in recent years, which will likely benefit a number of sectors, particularly grocery retailers and FMCG manufacturers.

With the increasing number of supermarkets across the Philippines, Filipino shopping habits are shifting: shoppers are making “top-up” shopping trips in supermarkets more frequently, and visiting the supermarket more frequently is becoming the norm.

Do consumers care if the companies they buy products and services from are socially responsible? The models that companies adopt for their corporate social responsibility efforts continue to evolve, but what impact do the varied strategies have on consumer sentiment?

Hispanic women are a key growth engine of the U.S. female population and are expected to become 30 percent of the total female population by 2060, while the non-Hispanic white female population is expected to drop to 43 percent.

With seven billion people living in the world, new findings from a Nielsen global survey revealed that when it comes to core fundamental lifestyle values centered on family, education or religious aspirations, we are more alike than we are different. What drives our shopping preferences, however, can vary considerably depending on where we live.

To drive profitable growth in the U.S., companies should return their focus to consumers, and their strategies need to tap purchasing behaviors and mindsets that are reflective of the recent recession, the proliferation of retail channels and innovations in technology.